Three-Dimensional Simulations for Convection in a Porous Medium with Internal Heat Source and Variable Gravity Effects

The problem of convection in a fluid-saturated porous layer which is heated internally and where the gravitational field varies with distance through the layer is studied. The accuracy of both the linear instability and global nonlinear energy stability thresholds is tested using a three-dimensional simulation. Our results support the assertion that the linear theory is very accurate in predicting the onset of convective motion, and thus, regions of stability.